While the geographic boundaries of the City of New Orleans and Orleans Parish are the same, the city and parish function as separate governing bodies. Parish offices are dictated by state law, while city agencies are defined by the city’s Home Rule Charter. Orleans Parish government houses and maintains Civil and Criminal District Court, the Sheriff’s Office, prisons, assessor’s office, and the Orleans Parish School Board, among others.

The New Orleans City Archives holds records of several agencies of Orleans Parish government, outlined below.